Mysore : Director General of Administrative Training Institute (ATI) Rashmi V., an IAS officer, was on Wednesday assaulted allegedly by a group of former contract employees of the institute.

The assault took place on the institute premises on Lalitha Mahal Road after the body of the ATI’s mess manager Venkatesh (53) — found earlier in the day — was brought back after post-mortem.

Though the police described the death of Venkatesh as suicide, the protesters comprising contract employees, who had been removed from service earlier this month, accused Ms. Rashmi of harassing the deceased.

Venkatesh, who stayed in the ATI’s residential quarters, was found dead in the water tank on the institute premises earlier in the day.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) A.N. Rajanna said the police rushed to the spot on receiving information and escorted the lady IAS officer to safety.

“We are yet to receive an assault complaint,” he added. But, Ms. Rashmi said a complaint had already been lodged.